Tuesday - September 7, 2010

The winds started picking up this morning. We are fairly well protected in this marina which is off the main channel. However there is still a lot of chop in the water. Was going to go over to Windsong this morning which is in the public marina along the channel but the surge inside the channel was crazy. Took my microphone into the marina here for repair as it was not transmitting. They said they would look at it or get me a new one by tomorrow.

Jeff from Idyll Time, kindly took us in to he local Westmarine where we picked up a few things. While I was doing that, Brenda went next door to the Home Depot to check out the plants. When we were going over to Westmarine, Jeff also showed us the way to get to the local beach and some trails that ran through the park. One of the things, I am impressed with about Michigan is how much parkland they have preserved all along the coast. I think we may go for a walk on one of the trails tomorrow.

About three, Brenda and I walked over to the beach. The winds are still building up and the whitecaps are really rolling in. The surge at the opening was running about 8 feet. it would be impossible to take most boats out through it to the lake. Of course you would have to be an idiot to even try it.

This evening the winds are continuing to build up and right now would appear to be about 40 knts if not more. certainly some of the gusts have to be over that speed. The boat is rocking even though we are sheltered at the back of the marina. I suspect that our friends over at the public marina are really rocking and rolling since they are exposed directly to the water in the channel. Their slips back onto the channel and the surge rolls right by them. I put another forward spring on the boat tonight. Three lines off the bow, three springs and two lines off the stern (one on each side) should hold. Still she is rocking pretty good as the gusts come in. The winds are supposed to die down a little in the morning - to 30 knts and further as Wednesday goes on. By Thursday the lake is supposed be down to 2 to 4 feet and the winds to 10 to 15 knts. However, I have been watching the lastes tropical storm which is now rolling through Texas, and one of the tracks could put it right over southern lake Michigan.

I have a bunch of pictures I want to post but I think I have to go into the Lounge at the Marina to do it. The distance between the WiFi tranmitter and the boat, does not allow quick uploading of pictures.